The chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut is in a custody battle over his 2-year-old daughter.

Michael J. Thomas, 37, wants his daughter, Rain, back on the reservation. But his ex-girlfriend, 31-year-old Vanessa Hyman, who previously lived on the reservation, has taken Rain to New York.

Thomas and Hyman shared custody of Rain but Thomas was recently granted full custody by the tribal court. Hyman has a history of domestic violence, the court said. Thomas and Hyman are now fighting in court in the Bronx, New York, over who has jurisdiction in the case.

Get the Story:
Tribal Chairman Fights For Custody Of Daughter (The New London Day 10/19)
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Rush & Molloy: A high-stakes battle over Pequot chief's girl (The New York Daily News 10/17)

Relevant Links:
National Indian Child Welfare Association - http://www.nicwa.org

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